Top 10 Chemistry Summer Internships for High School Students
As a high school student with an interest in chemistry and STEM fields, chemistry internships for high school students offer an excellent opportunity to explore your interests and gain practical experience in real-world environments. They can also be a gateway to learning practical lab techniques, connecting with industry professionals, and exploring various career paths without paying a hefty fee for a traditional program.
There are several research institutions, universities, and organizations that offer chemistry internships for high school students that are accessible and rewarding. Some opportunities may also give you a stipend! Be it in-person or virtual, chemistry internships for high school students are a great way to engage in advanced scientific research, learn about industry practices, and work in a collaborative environment to set the stage for your professional and academic careers. Below are 10 chemistry internships for high school students, offering practical experience and hands-on learning for a well-rounded educational experience.
1. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; 100 students per year
Eligibility: High school juniors; International applicants can also apply; More details here
Program Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Cost/Stipend: None; Paid
RSI offers highly competitive chemistry internships for high school students, alongside other science and engineering programs, with only 100 students selected annually for this program. The program combines on-campus theoretical coursework and off-campus work in conducting practical chemistry research. This ensures that you can experience the research process in its entirety and can design a detailed research plan and execute it successfully to deliver conference-style written and oral reports.
RSI starts with a week of intensive classes from accomplished lecturers. Then, you will have a 5-week research internship where you will work on your individual chemistry project. You will be mentored by established researchers and scientists throughout the process and will gain valuable insights from their guidance.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Various deadlines depending on the cohort
Cost: Starts at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Ladder Internships is a selective program that connects high school students to high-growth start-ups in various industries, including biochemistry, health tech, and more. These organisations raise over a million dollars on average. Throughout the internship, you will be supervised by a manager at the startup organisation, who will work closely with you to ensure that you can meet your objectives and complete your tasks. You will also receive mentorship and support from a Ladder Coach as you work on a practical project that delivers measurable value to the organization. At the end of the program, you will have the opportunity to present your work to the company.
3. Stanford Summer Session Courses
Location: Stanford University, CA
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and graduate students
Program Dates: Depends on the course; Typically 4 weeks between June 21 – August 17
Application Deadline: November 1 – December 13 (early) or February 12 (regular)
Cost: Varies
Stanford offers unique, education-oriented chemistry courses for high school students that combine extracurriculars with challenging academics in a university setting, allowing you to experience college life first-hand! Their chemistry courses cover a range of subjects, and the curriculum typically consists of 5 units. The course options include subjects such as Structure and Reactivity of Carbon-based Molecules, Understanding the Natural and Unnatural World through Chemistry, Chemical Principles I, Chemical Principles II, and more. All the courses have a certain amount of lab work included, thus giving you a practical learning experience that will enhance your understanding of your subjects and enable you to interact with state-of-the-art equipment.
4. Garcia Summer Research Program – Stony Brook University
Location: Stony Brook University, NY
Acceptance Rate: 10%-15%; Highly selective
Eligibility: 16 years old by July 4; Unweighted GPA of 3.8; At least 60% SAT/Regents scores; You must also have taken at least 3 of the following subjects: English, Chemistry, Mathematics/Calculus, Physics, or Biology
Program Dates: June 26 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 3
Cost: $40 registration fee; $4,000 laboratory fee
The Garcia Summer Research Program is an intensive seven-week program offering chemistry internships for high school students. It combines independent research with formal instruction, enabling you to design original research projects. You will be guided and mentored by Garcia Center’s students, staff, and faculty as you work on your project. The program starts with three days focused on lab safety training before moving on to daily lectures on current research and group experiments.
The program gives you the opportunity to continue your research during your academic year through the Mentor Program, where you can plan your schedule with a faculty member. You’ll also participate in social activities and field trips to museums and more. The program finally ends with a student research symposium, where you will present your experiments and findings. The organisation will also coordinate with your school board to enable you to participate in the program.
5. The Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS): Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, PA
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Eligibility: High school students in 11th grade when applying; At least 16 years of age; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Program Dates: Virtual Jumpstart: June 16 – 17 | In-person programme: June 21 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost: None
SAMS is a merit-based program that focuses on providing high school students with a more hands-on look into STEM. It starts with a two-day virtual jumpstart that focuses on building the skills required to complete the in-person program before moving on to the 6-week in-person experience that will engage you in courses and meetings. The program features STEM-related research projects and weekly writing workshops to support your preparation for college applications. You will also participate in group-learning activities and collaborative coaching sessions.
In the Chemistry course, you will learn about analytical techniques, such as chromatography, titrations, and more, that are used in research labs globally. You will also gain a deeper understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of experimental design and how to conduct a real-world research project. Previous projects have included topics like “Investigations into the Versatile Applications of Polymer Chemistry” and more.
6. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: In-person and hybrid at George Mason University, VA. Virtual/remote opportunities are also available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Eligibility: 15 years or older by June 18 for the remote internships and for the in-person/hybrid internships with computer labs; Wet-lab in-person/hybrid internships require you to be at least 16 years old by June 18
Program Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically in January or February
Cost: $25 application fee
Offering 8-week chemistry internships for high school students, ASSIP is designed to enhance your knowledge and provide hands-on experience with advanced equipment and sophisticated technologies available at George Mason University. During the program, you will conduct research and gain hands-on experience working in a lab and using appropriate equipment, while developing your scientific writing and communication skills, in addition to other creative skills related to scientific research. You will also explore various career options in discussion forums and meetings with role models, which will give you a platform to build connections and network with your peers and seniors, including faculty researchers.
7. American Chemical Society Project SEED Program
Location: Virtual/Various locations across the country
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates, having completed one course in high school chemistry; More details here
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks from June to August
Application Deadline: April 14
Stipend: $4,000
Project SEED offers paid chemistry internships for high school students looking for first-hand exposure to what working in a chemistry lab is like. As a participant, you will conduct independent research on your chosen projects at a SEED location nearest to you. You may also be engaged in campus tours, field trips, career panels, and more!
The program’s main goal is to provide the knowledge and skills to build a strong STEM foundation for students from underrepresented backgrounds. This also includes access to laboratories with top-notch equipment that enables you to successfully work on your projects. Beyond conducting experiments, you will draft reports and create a poster presentation to showcase your work. You can also register for the American Chemical Society National Meeting and present your work!
8. University of Chicago’s After School Matters STEM Lab Internship
Location: Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago, IL
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Eligibility: Chicago Public Schools high school students who are at least 16 years old
Program Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 23
Stipend:$16.60/hour
The After School Matters STEM Lab Internship program is a 6-week program that allows you to work on an independent project. You will conduct research in a laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for 20 hours each week and learn about the basics of lab work in a one-week research bootcamp.
The internship also includes mentoring opportunities with a team of PME researchers and educational staff. They will guide and advise you in your college applications and ensure you receive scientific and communication training. You will also have a platform to present your work in various settings!
9. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Summer High School Intern Program
Location: NIST Boulder, CO, or NIST Gaithersburg, MD
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; U.S. citizens; Freshly graduated students who have not started college may apply; You should also live near the centers
Program Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 6
Stipend: Unpaid
The NIST Summer High School Intern Program offers competitive chemistry internships for high school students interested in conducting cutting-edge research using NIST’s advanced facilities. As an intern, you will work alongside NIST scientists and engineers as you work on your research topic. There are 6 participating NIST laboratories that you may work at: the Engineering Lab, the Communications Technology Lab, the Information Technology Lab, the NIST Center for Neutron Research, the Physical Measurement Lab, and the Material Measurement Lab. NIST research has a multidisciplinary nature, and you may select from a range of unique research areas. You can also view previous research to know what to expect.
10. University of Pennsylvania’s Chemistry Research Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, PA
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Eligibility: Current 10th to 11th graders who have completed at least one year of high school chemistry
Program Dates: July 5 – 26
Application Deadline: February 15 (Tentative)
Cost: Free for eligible public and charter high school students within the School District of Philadelphia, through the Penn Summer Scholarship program
University of Pennsylvania’s chemistry internships for high school students program will introduce you to advanced chemistry research and hands-on learning in a laboratory setting. You will spend your time conducting open-ended laboratory investigations, learning about different instrumentation, and engaging in collaborative activities with your peers. You will also have a comprehensive learning experience with lectures and interactive activities, group discussions, presentations, Journal Clubs, and more. A key component of this program is the independent research that you will conduct using the university’s online resources. You will also receive guidance on how you may enter a science fair and meet your high school’s research requirements.